DEVELOPMENT: "My perspective" According to Dr Chris Oke: "Development is the modification of the biosphere and the application of human, financial, living and non-living resources to satisfy human needs and improve the quality of human life." That is, the real purpose of development is to improve life. Anything short of the foregoing is not development. If the above definition is considered to be a valid definition, then it means that some of the activities that we term "development" in our country are really not development, but a disguised IED. For any activity of man to be classified as a real developmental stride, it must take into account social and ecological factors, as well as the survival of living and non-living resource base; and of the long term, as well as the short term advantage and disadvantages of alternative actions. For developmental stride to serve its original intent, it must be sustainable Sustainable development is the development that meet with the social-economic need of this present generation, without compromising or truncating the ability of the future generation to meet theirs. In other words, it is the management of human use of the biosphere (part of the earth occupied by life) so that it may yield the greatest benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generation-***this is my ideal of development*** conservation and sustainable development are mutually dependent! Conservation must therefore be combined with measures to meet short term economic needs. I am not unaware of the fact that the vicious circle by which poverty causes ecological degradation, which in turn leads to more poverty can be broken only by development. But for development to succeed, it must be sustainable. The development efforts in our country today depicts the speed of an Achachatina maginata because of our lack of conservation culture. Hundreds of millions were spent last year by the Federal Government of Nigeria to feed and clothe the over 1.5 million people that were displaced when rivers overflown their banks. The reason for this is not far fetch- Deforestation; the incessant falling down of trees; inter alia. "What has forest got to do with flood control?" You may want to ask. Besides supplying timber and other products, forest have a vital effect on processes of great significance for people. Forest reduces global warming by locking up the amount of carbon (iv) oxide in the atmosphere. And everyone who is environmentally inclined knows that the prime cause of flooding is global warming. Forest influences local and regional climates, generally by making them milder, and also help to ensure a continuous flow of clean water. Forest are important because they protect soil cover on site and protect area downstream from excessive floods and other harmful fluctuation in stream flow. Thus reducing the silt (sharp sand) load of rivers; preventing the clogging of reservoirs, irrigation systems, canals, docks, etcetera. If the silt level of a river is high, the water carrying capacity of the river reduces. And when rain falls, the excess water spills to the land; the effect are usually inimical, devastating and even fatal in some cases Forest is so needed, yet they are being devastated by clearance for Agriculture and building, cutting for fuel, by overgrazing and by badly managed road constructions. Quote me anywhere; most environmental and ecological quagmires faced by the world today could be traced back to DEFORESTATION. It cost Argentina $10,000,000 a year to dredge silt from the estuary of the river plate and keep Buenos Aires open for shipping. In Indian, the annual damage by floods ranges from $140,000,000 to $750,000,000. In Nigeria, the huge sum spent on flood control and other flood related issues last year are better left unsaid. How long are we going to keep wounding the environment? There have to be a change; and it starts with you (not the government). Make up your mind that for every tree you fall, you will plant at least a tree plant to replace it. This is the essence of ornamental trees(not only for beautification)... Why you are falling down those trees to erect your building, remember that the ecosystem needs it for its survival. And ecological wellbeing is the preponderance for human survival...(there is more here, but not now) Embrace sustainable development
Posted on: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:09:02 +0000
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